Admission appeals

Sandwell Council's Admission Authority make most decisions about which Sandwell schools children will attend. In the case of schools not maintained by the local authority, the governing body is the Admission Authority.

If your child has not been offered a place at the school you would prefer him or her to attend, you may wish to appeal against the local authority's decision. In order to do this, the local authority must make arrangements for an Independent Appeal Panel to consider the case. The Independent Appeal Panel are not part of the local authority, any other Admission Authority or Sandwell Council as a whole.

For schools which are their own admission authorities the Governing Body will arrange the independent appeal.

Codes of practice

The School Admissions Code of Practice and School Admission Appeals Code of Practice can be viewed on the DCFS website via the links below:

• Download School Admissions Code of Practice
• Download School Admission Appeals Code of Practice

You can order a printed version of either Code of Practice by telephoning DCFS Publications on 0845 6022260 or by emailing dfes@prolog.uk.com quoting the relevant reference number.

Timetable for organising and hearing appeals

Lodging your appeal within the Annual Admissions round 2012/13

Deadline for lodging appeals from notification that application was unsuccessful:20 school days

• For secondary school applications letters will be sent to parents by second class post on National Offer Day (1 March or the next working day). 
• For primary school applications letters will be sent to parents by second class post on 27 April.
• If you have not received your letter by 7 March for a secondary school place or by 4 May for a primary school place you may obtain a copy from Admissions and Appeals (Tel: 0121 569 6765).

After lodging your appeal

• For applications made before the closing date appeals must be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals (as above).
• For late applications appeals should be heard within 40 school days from the deadline for lodging appeals where possible, or within 30 school days of the appeal being lodged.

Notification of appeal date

• No later than 10 school days before the appeal hearing, you will receive written notification of the date of and arrangements for the hearing.
• Parents may waive their right to 10 school days' notice of the hearing.
• The deadline for receipt of additional evidence to support your appeal must be received within 2 days of the appeal date.  Evidence not submitted 2 days before the appeal date may not be considered and would depend upon the significance of the evidence, or, depending on the quantity of evidence, whether the appeal would need to be adjourned.

    The decision

• Deadline for receipt of notification of appeal decision: 5 school days unless there is good reason.
• Appeals for heavily oversubscribed schools can last for up to 2 weeks.  You will be notified of the decision as soon as possible after the last hearing and not later than 5 school days of the last hearing unless there is good reason.
• Any appeal submitted after the appropriate deadline will still be heard in accordance with this timetable.